Related case:
FISA 2008 FISA vs Russian Rowing Federation (1)
January 27, 2008
On 26 January 2008, the FISA Executive Committee convened a Hearing to consider the status of the Russian Rowing Federation after seven of their Athletes had been convicted of having committed anti-doping rule violations during a twelve month period.
The Executive Committee is empowered to consider sanctions against a member federation under Article 12 of the FISA Anti-Doping Bye-Laws.
In this hearing the FISA Executive Committee considered the gravity of the violations; the lack of cooperation by the Russian Rowing Federation; the refusal to accept responsibility; and their provision of contradictory, inconsistent and deceptive explanations.
Therefore on 27 January 2008 the FISA Executive Committee decided:
1.) to apply the sanction to obligate the Russian Rowing Federation to reimburse FISA for all costs (including but not limited to laboratory fees, hearing expenses and travel) related to these seven violations of these Anti-Doping Rules committed by Russian athletes. This amount is approximately CHF 50’000.00;
2.) to apply the sanction to ban all officials of the Russian Rowing Federation from participation in any FISA activities including, but not limited to, the current office bearers and Board of Directors of the Russian Rowing Federation and all coaches, team support staff and medical staff for a period of one year, commencing on 27 January 2008.
3.) to apply the sanction to fine the Russian Rowing Federation in an amount of CHF 75’000.00. This fine will be directed to augment FISA’s 2008 Anti-Doping Programme.
Hereafter, due to an intervention, all Russian officials and team personnel connected to the violations have been banned from international sport for 3 years.
Considering these Russian measurements the FISA Executive Committee decides:
1.) No additional penalties will be imposed against the Russian Rowing Federation in spite of the nine violations of the World Anti-Doping Code within a 12 month period.
2.) The ban on all Russian Rowing Federation officials from participating in FISA events will not apply to all newly elected officials and newly appointed coaches and medical personnel, effective immediately.
3.) The bans from national and international participation of the nine rowers for the two-year periods stated in those decisions are re-confirmed.
4. An extension is granted of one month, until 30 April 2008, for the reimbursement of all costs related to the anti-doping actions taken by FISA against the Russian rowers; a total of CHF 53’338.00.
5. An extension is granted until 31 May 2008 for the payment of the fine of CHF 75’000.00.
